A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 12 - Navel Maneuvers

The kids were riding on Ash's Lapras in the ocean, searching for an Island with a Gym for Ash to battle. Tracey looked at an Island and smiled, "Hey, there's Navel Island! There supposed to be a Gym there."

Ash grinned, "A Gym? All right! Let's go then, full speed ahead Lapras!" he said. Lapras called out and started to swim toward the Island. "I wonder what kind of badge they have at the Gym there," Misty wondered.

"I think it's called the Sea Ruby Badge, 'cause it's made of a seashell with a Ruby in it," Tracey said. "It sounds pretty," Emma said. "The Sea Ruby Badge, and soon it's going to be mine," Ash said. "Pi-Pika-chu!" the male Pikachu said.

Once they reached the Island, Ash returned Lapras into its Poke ball to rest and then he and his friends turned to the Island. The beach was near a very quiet village, and there was no one in sight, but the Gym is nowhere to be found either.

"This is the right Island, right Tracey?" Emma asked. Tracey nodded, "Yeah, it has to be," he said. "This place sure looks quiet," Misty muttered. Ash looked around with a frown, "I don't see any Gym around."

They heard a peaceful music and looked to the ocean to see a cute young man on a sailboat. Misty nudged Emma's arm and nodded to the guy. Emma smirked and rolled her eyes with a soft chuckle.

The guy stopped at the shore and stopped the music before approaching them, "Hey! I bet you guys are looking for a Gym battle," he said. "Uh, yeah," Ash answered.

"Well, you came to the right place, it's nice to meet you, I'm Josh," the guy said and gave them a charming smile. Misty and Emma exchanged a look and a small smile as if saying 'he's cute!". The male Pikachu, Ash and Tracey smiled, not noticing the girls' looks.

"Hey, I'm Ash."

"And my name's Tracey."

"Pika-Pikachu!"

"My name's Emma."

"And I'm Misty."

Josh looked at the girls, "Emma and Misty, huh? They are beautiful names, and they suits you." Ash and Tracey looked surprised, "Huh?" Josh walked closer to the girls, "Nice to meet you two."

"Um, nice to meet you," Emma said with a small blush. "Yeah," Misty said as she blushed. "That's pretty weird," Tracey muttered. Ash in the meantime looked annoyed as he watched Emma speaking to Josh.

...................

After changing his clothes, Josh was leading the kids off to the direction of the Gym. Emma and Misty were walking behind him while Ash and Tracey were following.

Misty looked at Josh's large backpack, "Looks like you got everything you need in that backpack," she said. "Well, you can't be totally prepared to the surprises life has in store, but I always try to plan where I'm going and know what I need before I do something," Josh said.

"Wow, that's a mature way of looking at things," Emma said. Misty smirked and leaned closer to speak quietly to her, knowing Ash and Tracey could hear her, "Shame he's not in our age. If he was, maybe you two could have been a thing, since you pretty much are alike."

Emma blushed brightly while Ash looked annoyed. "Who is this guy anyway?" he asked. "I guess he's another trainer, and he must be here to challenge the Navel Gym Leader just like you are," Tracey said.

"Oh yeah?" Ash asked, "Well, we 'll just see who's gonna be the first to win the badge." Tracey raised an eyebrow, "Sure it's just the badge that you worried about?" he asked, but Ash didn't answer.

...................

The group finally reached to the doors of the Gym. Ash stood in front of it, "Okay, let's go inside." He and Tracey opened the heavy doors, and everyone walked in. Emma and her friends looked around in confusion; there was a cable car and a trail leading up the mountain.